Politics | 02/19/2009 7:40 am

Eric Holder: U.S. 'Nation of Cowards' on Race

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Some pundits and politicos predicted President Obama’s election would lead America into a "post-racial" era. Well, Attorney General Eric Holder’s not among that group — in fact, he thinks the nation needs to spend more time discussing the "painful" subject.

Appearing at a Justice Department celebration of Black History Month, Holder described America as a "nation of cowards" when it comes to discussing race and insisted citizens must work past "voluntary social segregation:"

Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot in things racial, we have always been, and we, I believe, continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.

Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about things racial.

This is truly sad. Given all that we as a nation went through during the civil rights struggle, it is hard for me to accept that the result of those efforts was to create an America that is more prosperous, more positively race-conscious, and yet is voluntarily socially segregated.

Holder went on to tell the crowd that he hopes the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division can help move the country forward in terms of race-based discussion.

A recent ABC poll showed that seventy-nine percent of white people said they were "fairly close personal friends" with a person of color. While that may be true, we wonder if these "fairly close personal friends" are actually discussing race. Our intuition says "no," for race can be a sticky, stressful subject. So, reader, we wonder: Do you discuss race with your friends, regardless of their skin tone?

Read more about: Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Nation of Cowards, News, Politics, Race

35 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

That is so true, but our only hope is that when the older generation with these racist views pass on, is that the younger folks will take up the mantle of accepting people of all races and finally we can come together. Obama made a very good start with the young as we saw all colors in his crowd during the campaign and that is how it should be. So I am hopeful for the future, but am not naive enough to know it will happen as soon as I would like.

By caj p on 02/19/2009 12:57 pm

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"hopefully the Obama election accelerated positive change…" Would you be saying the same thing if our first brown skinned president was a conservative?

By Beth Pie on 02/23/2009 3:54 pm

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Hi DeB. Well, this may be treason, but I was one of those "naive" people. After all, Obama’s election did destroy the notion that "a black person will never be elected president in my lifetime." Exploded that FOREVER. In fact, he could not have been elected without white support — indeed, his campaign got off the ground when he won the Iowa primary, and showed that white voters would support a black candidate for POTUS. This was (and is) huge.

I am disappointed that Holder referred to people who find it difficult to discuss this topic as "cowards." It is counter-productive. Such name-calling [by a person who has just been named to the highest law-enforcement position in the land] only reinforces the notion that a person who voices an unpopular opinion on race deserves to be scorned, ostrasized, or be concerned for his physical safety. It is you who are naive if you do not realize that both whites and African-Amerians would be in physical peril if they freely expressed their opinions on this subject in certain neighborhoods, in certain parishes. or in certain bars. We all need to learn more tolerance, and Mr. Holder is not helping that cause.

By Linda Mason on 02/19/2009 9:55 pm

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It has also terrorized those of us who are not racists who vehemently oppose his vision for America. Obama, like all presidents, has to "earn" his respect. Why should be treated differently?

By deber B on 02/19/2009 10:29 am

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No, he does not have to "earn" our support, it is our duty to support our elected leader unless he does something to degrade the office we elected him to.

By DeBúrca obj on 02/19/2009 11:43 am

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I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. He certainly has to earn my confidence in his administration. I hope he does one day.

By deber B on 02/19/2009 12:01 pm

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deber…so true…just like President Bush earned our respect and confidence for keeping us safe these last 7 1/2 years.

By Libra Lady on 02/19/2009 12:53 pm

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History, my dear, will be kind to W.

By deber B on 02/19/2009 2:05 pm

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In your dreams!!

By caj p on 02/19/2009 3:25 pm

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deber…yes it will…in fact I think it’s going to come sooner than we think….soon everyone is going to be wishing President Bush was still at the wheel….at least he wasn’t an "empty suit"…like we are stuck with now!

By Libra Lady on 02/19/2009 3:54 pm

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Your attitude and the attempts by the right to alter history is why it is so important for the Bush administration to be investigated. That is why I urge all to contact their Congressmen and support investigations into the Bush administration. And to all of you on the right who are so sure Bush and co. didn’t commit any crimes, this would be a great chance to prove it.

By DeBúrca obj on 02/19/2009 9:11 pm

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All I know is, I have a lot of work to do if I’m going to counter the social segregation in my own life. So I’m grateful to Holder for speaking out. Might just give me a nudge in a good direction.

By Ms. Dee on 02/19/2009 11:02 am

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WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT I THINK SHOULD BE A PIECE OF THIS SUBJECT. I -ME- THINK I WANT TO START THIS PIECE OUT AS THE WHITE 69 YR. OLD WOMAN WHOSE BABYSITTER WAS A DEAR, PRECIOUS , BLACK WOMAN . WHEN WE FELL AND GOT HURT SHE PICKED US UP AND SHE LOVED ON US AND WE LOVED RIGHT BACK ON HER. THAT WOMAN COULD BAKE ANYTHIGN AND WHATEVER IT WAS WOULD MAKE YOYR MOUTH WATER UNTILL SHE WOULD SAY , COEM OVER HERE WITH YOUR MOUTH WIDE OPEN , COME ON NOW , WIDER THEN THAT AND WE WOULD STRAIN OURSELVES TO REACH FULLY THE MOST OPENED MOUTHS ANY ONE CAN IMAGINE. SHE WOULD HOLD THE FOODS WITH HER FINGERS AND WE WOULD SMACK OUR LIPS AND SHE WOULD LOL AS WE DID THAT. HER LOL WOULD CAUSE US ALL TO LOL! AND SHE WOULD SAY WE MADE HER LOL FIRST BECAUSE SHE COULD HEAR OUR HAPPY LAUGHTER FROM ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

DO YOU SEE WHAT HER BABYSITTING WAS LIKE ? IT WAS LIKE L O V E SHOULD BE REMEMBERED. DEAR SWEET AND SO PRECIOUS. I WILL NEVER FORGET HER . L O V E THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTS US OT KNOW AND FEEL. GOD SENT HIS SON HIS NAME WAS JESUS . J E S U S IS LOVE. SKIN COLOR? WHAT SKIN COLOR ? WE WERE RAISED EVEN BACK THEN THAT THE BLACK PEOPLE JUST STOOD A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE SUN AND GOT A BAD SUNBURN. MOM USED TO SAY IF MRS. C. GETS CUT SHE BLEEDS BLOOD JUST LIKE YOU . ONE DAY SHE GOT CUT WITH HER PARING KNIFE PEELING WE 3 KIDS AN APPLE. WE WATCHED HER BLEED AND I MOVED HER FINGER OVER SO MY BROTHER COULD SEE BETTER AND WE TOLD HER YOU ARE JUST LIKE US . BOTH OF US TOLD HER THAT AT THE SAME TIME. THAT DID IT FOR US AND WE TOOK CARE OF HER FINGER FOR HER AND WE PUT THE BIGGEST BANDAGE ON IT ANYONE COULD SEE……………………..WE LOVE HER STILL AND SHE IS OPASSED ON. THE BLACKS OR BROWNS ARE ABLE OT LOVE JUST THE SAME AS WE WHITE PEOPLE ARE.. GOD PLEASE BLESS ALL OF THE MRS. AND MR COX ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD .

By newzie snoozie on 02/19/2009 3:23 pm

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As a Black woman I know what it is like to be looked at or treated “differently” because of my skin color. Does it make me act more cautiously? Yes, it does. Race allows us to rank members of our society and has created a dichotomy of what is good or bad within it.

It hurts me that I have to explain to my children what systematic racism is. I shouldn’t have to. It hurts me to have to listen to my daughter cry when she knows that she has been discriminated against. In turn, I have cried for all that have to live with that created stigma that has been forced upon us. While I know that I cannot apply a racist label to everyone in this society, I am not that naïve to know it does not exist. I know my true friends, because they judge me by who I am and nothing else. I am so proud to have friends that can base their judgment of me based upon this factor; however when will we judge people based upon who they are, rather than what color they are?

Race is a subject that needs to be addressed within this society. Just because Mr. Obama is president does not mean that we can erase the historical ramifications of racism within our society. We must engage in critical thought and analysis of the reasons why, and until then, I don’t believe there will ever be a “true change.”

I love myself, and it gives me the ability to love all, regardless of their skin color!

By Angie B on 02/19/2009 6:41 pm

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ANGIE , HOW IT MUST HURT TO BE A MOTHER WHO HAS TO EXPLAIN THE IDIOTIC PEOPLE WHO DO LIVE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF OURS. THEI MAY SOUND HORRIBLE FOR ME TO SAY THIS BUT I AM GLAD THAT I AM WHITE. I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO TALK TO MY 6 NOW GROWN CHILDREN LIKE YOU GIRLS HAVE TO DO.

MY MOTHER WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER AND SHE WAS FILLED WITH GODS HAPPY AND PEACEFUL LOVE . SHE HAD GODS LOVE IN HER SO STRONGLY THAT IF SHE EVER HEARD ONE OF KIDS SAY DAMN OR SH-T OR HELL WE GOT GRABBED BY THE BACK OF OUR NECKS AND TOLD OPEN WIDE. OHH BOY THE SOAP STILL DOSEN’T TASTE LIKE THE OLD TIMERS SOAP. THEN WE WERE SIT DOWN WITH HER HAND STILL LEADING THE WAY BY THE BACK OF OUR NECKS. WE THEN WROTE DOWN I AM SORRY LORD THAT I LIED AND SPOKE WOPRDS THAT WERE HURTING TO YOU. I AM SORRY I HURT YOUR FEELINGS LORD. PLEASE FORGIVE ME/ WE WROTE THAT DOWN 10 TIMES TO 25 OR EVEN 30 ONCE I KNOW MY BROTHER WROTE THAT.

I CAN NOT HELP BUT RECALL MY MOTHERS WORDS WHAT IF IT WERE YOU. WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER IN HI SCHOOL I LOANED MY BLACK FRIEND MY LIPSTICK TO USE AND THEN I WOULD APPLY MORE WITHOUT WIPING IT OFF . GERALDINE WAS JUST GERALDINE . I LOVED HER SO MUCH I NAMED MY 3 DAUGHTERS TO RHYMNE WITH GERALDINE. I HAVE NADIEN, JOLENE, AND MARENE AL NAMED AFTER A BLACK FRIEND. WHO WANTS OT KISS MY REAREND. I WOULD STILL DO THTA A G A I N IF I SO WANTED TO. SHE WAS A FINE YOUNG LADY AND WE WERE BOTH RAISED IN CHURCH. SHE HAS THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD NOW AND SHE HAS FAITH THTA IS AMAZING. SHE CAN WALK INTO A HOSPITAL ROOM AND IF GOD SAYS KISS THE PTS. FOOT SHE WILL DO IT. I WILL TOO. GOD IS REALLY REALLY REALLY REAL AND WE KNOW IT AND WE BELIEVE IT .WE KNOW WHEN GOD SAYS DO IT HE MEANS DO IT. SO WE DO IT. SHE AND I GET MORE BLESSED THEN ANYONE ELSE WE CAN THINK OF. WE CAN ALSO SING A SONG TO BLESS HIM WITH . IT IS SO SAD WHEN WE HAVE TO SEE SUCH HARD HEADED PEOPLE TO STILL BE RACIEST. IF THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD CONDEM SOMEONE WHY DON’T THEY CONDEM THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THE BLACKS OVER TO AMERICA WHEN THEY WERE THROWING UP ON THE SHIPS TIEM AND TIME AGAIN. THE BLACK PEOPLE DID NOT DESIRE TO COME TO AMERICA THEY WERE FORCED TO COME TO AMERICA. BUT W A I T —- THAT WAS SO MANY YEARS AGO. WHY CONDEM THE ONES WHO WERE BORN LAST WEEK OR TODAY OR 20 OR 70 YEARS AGO? IT WAS LONGER THEN THAT THE BLACKS WERE BROUGHT HERE FROM THEIR HOMELANDS. IF SOEMONE IS BORN IN AMERICA THAT MAKES THEM JUST AS GOOD AS THE PERSON CALLED YOU. LATER ANGIE M,AY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU AND IN GOD DO TRUST. LOOK WHAT JESUS HAS DOEN FOR YOU HE SAVED YOUR SOUL AND HE SAT YOU FREE . YOU WERE BORN IN AMERICA WHY CNA’T YOU BE CALLED A BLACK FROM AMERICA?